In a landmark year for Indian tourism, Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a top travel destination, welcoming an all-time high of 134.1 million tourists in 2024, marking a 19.6% growth over 2023, a 50.6% surge from pre-pandemic 2019, and a remarkable 526% increase since 2020. Branded as “Incredible Madhya Pradesh”, the state has proven its appeal across spiritual, heritage, wildlife, rural, urban, and film tourism sectors.
According to Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Tourism and MD of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, “Madhya Pradesh offers a complete travel experience with its rich culture, diverse ecology, and robust infrastructure. The impressive rise in tourist footfall is a testament to strategic planning, community participation, and impactful policy implementation.”
Religious Tourism Leads with Over 107 Million Visitors
Religious destinations were the biggest draw, with Ujjain alone attracting 73.2 million pilgrims, largely driven by the Mahakal Lok corridor. Other spiritual hotspots like Chitrakoot, Maihar, Amarkantak, Omkareshwar, and Salkanpur also witnessed significant surges. Mega projects such as Omkareshwar Mahalok, Shri Ram Van Gaman Path, Devi Lok, and Hanuman Lok are strengthening faith-based tourism, making Madhya Pradesh a spiritual epicenter in India.
Heritage Tourism Sees a 25% Jump
Heritage sites attracted over 8 million visitors in 2024. Gwalior saw a threefold increase in tourists, aided by its new status as a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Sites like Khajuraho, Bhojpur, and Maheshwar also drew thousands. UNESCO added Bhojpur to its tentative list, bringing the state’s total to 18 UNESCO-recognized sites (3 inscribed, 15 tentative), cementing Madhya Pradesh’s reputation as a living museum of India’s ancient glory.
Wildlife and Nature Continue to Inspire Global Interest
Wildlife tourism flourished across Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, and Kuno, with over 1.4 million total visits in 2024. The cheetah reintroduction project in Kuno brought global recognition. The state is celebrated as the “Tiger, Leopard, Vulture, Gharial, and Cheetah State”, reflecting its ecological diversity.
Nature tourism also thrived in destinations like Pachmarhi, Bhedaghat, Amarkantak, Sailani Island, Gandhi Sagar, and Tamia. These regions offered eco-tourism experiences like boating, trekking, glamping, and adventure sports, helping travelers reconnect with nature.
Rural and Film Tourism Gain Popularity
Madhya Pradesh’s innovative Rural Tourism model includes 63 tourism villages and over 470 homestays, attracting 24,000+ guests looking for authentic cultural immersion. Destinations like Pranpur, India’s first handloom village, and tribal art centers have gained national and international attention for sustainable tourism practices.
In Film Tourism, the state has become a preferred shooting location with cities like Chanderi, Maheshwar, and Khajuraho featuring in major Bollywood films and web series. The success of Stree 2 and international acclaim for the film Homebound at Cannes have spotlighted the state’s cinematic appeal. The new Film Policy 2025 and the Tourism Facilitation Cell are drawing more filmmakers to the heart of India.
Urban Tourism Soars in Clean and Modern Cities
Cleanliness and culture blend in urban hotspots like Indore, Bhopal, and Jabalpur, which saw a combined tourist footfall of nearly 15 million. Indore retained its title as India’s cleanest city for the seventh year, enhancing its appeal as a smart tourism city.
Foreign Tourist Arrivals See Steady Growth
The state also witnessed an uptick in international tourism, with 167,000 foreign tourists visiting in 2024. Wildlife reserves, heritage monuments, and spiritual sites like Khajuraho, Orchha, Gwalior, and Bandhavgarh remained top favorites among overseas travelers.
